Advent Bible Verse Countdown Chain (25 Days to Christmas)

A Christmas countdown chain with an Advent Bible verse for every day from December 1 to Christmas. Each paper link carries one KJV verse, and together they tell the story of Jesus' birth in order: God's promises in Isaiah and Micah, the angel's visits, the trip to Bethlehem, the shepherds, Simeon and Anna, the wise men, and John 1:14 on Christmas Day.

Each day, tear off the bottom link, open it up and read the verse inside at breakfast or bedtime. The verses are printed on the inside of the links, so the chain itself is just bright paper loops with a star on top. Every link also names a longer passage from our Advent reading plan for kids, so families can read the whole part of the story that day.

What it looks like finished.

The Christmas story sets: the lessons, crafts, coloring pages and puzzles for The Birth of Jesus (memory verse Luke 2:11), The Shepherds and the Angels (Luke 2:10) and The Wise Men (Matthew 2:10) tell the same story with the same memory verses. Luke 2:11 and Matthew 2:10 are links 17 and 24 of this chain.

The 25 Advent verses

• December 1 · Isaiah 9:6: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
• December 2 · Micah 5:2: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
• December 3 · Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
• December 4 · Luke 1:13: “But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.”
• December 5 · Luke 1:22: “And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.”
• December 6 · Luke 1:31: “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.”
• December 7 · Luke 1:37: “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
• December 8 · Luke 1:41: “And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:”
• December 9 · Luke 1:47: “And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”
• December 10 · Luke 1:58: “And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.”
• December 11 · Luke 1:68: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,”
• December 12 · Matthew 1:21: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
• December 13 · Matthew 1:24: “Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:”
• December 14 · Luke 2:1: “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.”
• December 15 · Luke 2:7: “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
• December 16 · Luke 2:8: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”
• December 17 · Luke 2:11: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
• December 18 · Luke 2:14: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
• December 19 · Luke 2:16: “And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.”
• December 20 · Luke 2:20: “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”
• December 21 · Luke 2:22: “And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;”
• December 22 · Luke 2:30: “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,”
• December 23 · Luke 2:38: “And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”
• December 24 · Matthew 2:10: “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.”
• December 25 · John 1:14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Tips

• Print on colored paper, or let kids color the blank backs of the strips before cutting.
• For a classroom, make one chain for the room and read the links you missed each Sunday.
• Pre-readers: the child tears off the bottom link and opens it, and an adult reads the verse inside.